Bashu, the Little Stranger (1989)

This film is also showing at our sister cinema, Lido Cinemas

Australian Premiere - 4K Restoration

‘[This] film made in Iran decades ago tells us more about who we are and who we could be than many contemporary works. It demonstrates that cinema, when rooted in its own culture yet open to universal themes, can achieve immortality.’ – Bijan Tehrani, Cinema Without Borders

Fleeing his home in the Persian Gulf after an airstrike leaves him orphaned, ten-year-old Bashu (Adnan Afravian) arrives in a village in Iran’s verdant north. Stranded in this unfamiliar place with a different language, culture and skin colour, he meets Naii (Susan Taslimi), an impoverished mother of two who takes him in. Mature beyond his years, this little stranger soon becomes an essential member of her household; but overcoming the racial prejudices of his adopted community will prove a much harder task.

Completed in 1986 and shelved by authorities until 1989 for political reasons, this humanist parable from master filmmaker Bahram Beyzaie was fittingly awarded the prize for Best Restored Film at Venice in 2025.

Introduced by Amin Palangi at Ritz Cinemas and Hamid Taheri at Lido Cinemas.  

Presented in cooperation with the Persian Film Festival Australia.

Rating

PG

Duration

121 min

Country

Iran

Language

Farsi, Gilaki and Arabic (English subtitles)

Cast

Susan Taslimi, Parviz Pourhosseini, Adnan Afravian

Director

Bahram Beyzaie